MISCELLANEOUS NAVAL AND MILITARY

Oscar, is said to have been the ship's cat on the Bismarck. When the vessel was torpedoed and sunk, he was rescued from the sea by HMS Cossack and renamed Unsinkable Sam. After some months, Cossack too was sunk. That time he was rescued by HMS Ark Royal, but soon afterwards she also was torpedoed. Sam was rescued a third time, but the destroyer HMS Legion was taking no chances, and Sam was retired to a home on dry land in England.

This intriguing photo, taken in 1919, was first published in 1975 by Sir Victor Goddard, a retired R.A.F. officer. The photo is a group portrait of Goddard's squadron, which had served in World War I at the HMS Daedalus training facility. An extra ghostly face appears in the photo. In back of the airman positioned on the top row, fourth from the left, can clearly be seen the face of another man. It is said to be the face of Freddy Jackson, an air mechanic who had been accidentally killed by an airplane propeller two days earlier. His funeral had taken place on the day this photograph was snapped. Members of the squadron easily recognized the face as Jackson's. It has been suggested that Jackson, unaware of his death, decided to show up for the group photo.

Simon was found wandering the dockyards of Hong Kong in March 1948 by 17 year-old Ordinary Seaman George Hickinbottom, a member of the crew of the British frigate HMS Amethyst stationed in the city in the late 1940s. At this stage, it is thought Simon was approximately a year old, and was very undernourished and unwell. Hickinbottom smuggled the cat aboard ship, and Simon soon ingratiated himself with the crew and officers, particularly as he was adept at catching and killing the rats, which infested the lower decks. Simon rapidly gained a reputation for cheekiness, leaving presents of dead rats in sailors' beds and sleeping in the captain's cap.

The crew viewed Simon as a lucky mascot, and when the ship's commander changed later in 1948, the outgoing Ian Griffiths left the cat for his successor Bernard Skinner, who took an immediate liking to the friendly cat. However, Skinner's first mission in command of the Amethyst was to travel up the Yangtze River to Nanking to replace the duty ship there, HMS Consort . Halfway up the river the ship became embroiled in the "Yangtze incident", when Chinese communist gun batteries opened fire on the frigate. One of the first rounds tore through the Captain's cabin, killing Skinner and seriously wounding Simon.

The badly wounded cat crawled on deck, and was rushed to the medical bay, where the ship's surviving medical staff cleaned his burns and removed four pieces of shrapnel from Simon, who was not expected to last the night. He did manage to survive however and returned to his former duties in spite of the dislike he faced from the new captain. Whilst beached in the river the ship had become overrun with rats, and Simon took on the task of removing them with vigour, as well as being used in the sick bay to raise the morale of wounded teenage sailors.

Following the ship's escape from the river, Simon became an instant celebrity, lauded in British and World news and presented with the "Animal VC ", the Dickin Medal as well as a Blue Cross medal, and Amethyst campaign medal and the fanciful rank of "Able Seacat". Thousands of letters were written to him, so much that one of Amethyst officers was detailed solely to answer Simon's post. At every port Amethyst stopped at on its route home, Simon was presented with honour, and a special welcome was made for him at Plymouth in November when the ship returned. Simon was however, like all animals entering the UK, subject to quarantine regulations and spent his time in an animal centre in Surrey.

There Simon contracted a virus and, despite the attentions of medical staff and thousands of well-wishers, passed away on November 28, 1949 from a complication of the viral infection caused by his war wounds. Hundreds, including the entire crew of HMS Amethyst attended his funeral in Ilford in East London, and his gravestone reads: IN MEMORY OF "SIMON" SERVED IN H.M.S. AMETHYST MAY 1948 - SEPTEMBER 1949 AWARDED DICKIN MEDAL AUGUST 1949 DIED 28TH NOVEMBER 1949. THROUGHOUT THE YANGTZE INCIDENT HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

A Personal Tribute to Able Seacat Simon D.M., R.N.Within the recorded History of England, there have been many stories and epitaphs written about our nations favourite pet, the cat. Amongst them, one stands out. A black and white tom, whose name was “Simon”. He alone, was the recipient of the animal equivalent of the “Victoria Cross” for bravery, that of the Dickin Medal awarded by the PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals).

Simon, a stray kitten, was rescued from Stonecutters Island in Hong Kong in May 1948 by one of the crew of HMS Amethyst, Ordinary Seaman George Hickinbottom. His destiny had, at that moment been sealed. On 20th April 1949 the Amethyst was on her way up the Yangtze River to relieve the Destroyer HMS Consort in Nanking.She was on her “lawful and peaceful occasions”. During the outrage of the attack on the ship that followed, “Simon” was knocked unconscious and seriously wounded. He sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, hiswhiskers burnt off and bleeding gashes on both his back legs. He was not expected to survive.

The gentle hands of one of his shipmates, retrieved him from the debris. Much to the relief of the crew, very gradually nature did her work and Simon recovered. This stalwart cat was back on parade. Nothing could have given our lads more pleasure and boosted their moral, than to see him on his daily inspections of his ship and to have had him curl up, purring, on their hammocks.

The special comfort he gave to those that were sick or injured during the long and desperate months that followed cannot be forgotten. Respect for him grew with his daily duty to protect the dwindling food supplyfrom the ever present threat of rats. Although recovering from his wounds, he never tired in the grim struggle, to clear his ship of vermin. Someone on board the Amethyst, was heard to say “that cat deserves a medal” how prophetic this turned out to be!

The exploits of this valiant cat became public news here at home in England. Many a letter was written, enquiring after the health of Simon, even tins of Sardines, which were his favourite, were sent to him. Simon came home, with his ship to England. I was taken by my Grandfather to see Amethyst on her arrival in Devonport and to meet Simon. At only four years old, whilst in Quarantine, on November the 28th 1949 Simons spirit, slipped quietly away to sea. He was buried in The PDSA Animal Cemetery at Ilford. As one of the many who avidly listened for news of him all those years ago.

I am proud to offer this tribute to the cat that came to mean so much to us all. For “Simon”, so long gone from our lives, but never absent from our hearts.

I've always been fascinated by animals in conflict and the Dicken Medal holders in particular. The poor animals must be terrified yet they show immense courage.Another one that amazes me is the story of the Alsation called Brian better known now to the world as "Bing the Para Dog"

Many years ago I heard the story of a Great Dane in a Japanese POW Camp. Whilst trying to find info on this dog I came across this picture. It belongs to the story of Simon so I just thought I should add it now.

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Quote: chocks wrote in post #9Many years ago I heard the story of a Great Dane in a Japanese POW Camp. Whilst trying to find info on this dog I came across this picture. It belongs to the story of Simon so I just thought I should add it now.

Animal VC for dog who died of a broken heart: Theo’s handler killed by Taliban• Pair detected a record 14 Taliban roadside bombs and weapons cashes• Lance Corporal Liam Tasker and his 'best mate' Theo were 'inseparable' • LCpl, from Fife was posthumously honoured with MBE last year• Theo made the most confirmed operational finds by any arms and explosives search dog in Afghanistan to date

An army dog which died of a broken heart hours after his handler was shot dead has been awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.Theo, a springer spaniel cross, received the PDSA Dickin Medal for life-saving bravery in Afghanistan.The 22-month-old dog suffered a fatal seizure when his handler, Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, 26, was shot dead by the Taliban in March 2011.

I came across this site while browsing a magazine, I found it interesting even though I have never had anything to do with the navy. I have put it on here just in case chocks has'nt seen it, though I am sure he must have.